THE SPORTS HUB

Hanna Payton and Abby Mae Parkinson from Drops Cycling, the team that refused to die

10 Avril 2019

Drops Cycling is the only professional women’s cycling team in the United Kingdom. They refused to disappear even when everything was pointing at that. But thanks to their determination the team overcame all the setbacks and managed to remain at the top level of competitive cycling. A story of struggle that deserves to be told.

When last winterwe interviewed Bob Varney, founder and director ofDrops Cycling, he expressed his pride for the teams’ evolution. And he has every reason to feel like that; in only two years of existence,the Drops reached the 11th position in the UCI women’s ranking. It isa meteoric rise, keeping in mind that it is a recently created team integrated by a group of young cyclists.

During those training session days atCambrils Park Sport Village, no one could imagine that only few months later the team would be at the point of disappearing. AmericanTrek decided to withdraw its sponsorshipto create their ownwomen’s cycling teamonly few weeks before the beginning of the 2019 season.

They were days full of uncertainty forDrops Cycling, but they didn’t want to disappear from the professional map. They decided to call to action with a crowdfunding platform and, in the end, they could collect the money needed to save the team.

The crowdfunding campaign raised more than £ 25,000thanks to the money given by people who sympathised with the cause and to some sponsorship agreements, which ensured their future for this 2019.

For the time being,it is the only women’s cycling team in the United Kingdom at the UCI category. The fight was worth it. This year they have chosen Cambrils Park Sport Village again to do their preseason training sessions and, with them, theroads of the Costa Daurada have, once more, become colourful, just as they say with their favourite hashtag:#ColourTheRoad

This season will be different from the previous one, as they will have to sacrifice some races because they have less resources. However, their spirit is the same, as well as the desire to compete and win.

In fact, the first results have arrived:Elinor Barker won the world champion in the scratch race of the UCI Track Cycling World Championshipsheld in Poland in late February.

AtCambrils Park Sport Villagewe have had the pleasure to interviewAbby Mae ParkinsonandHanna Payton, bothkey members of the Drops Cyclingteam from its foundation.

Watch the full interview!

Would you like to try a cyclingtraining camp at Cambrils Park Sport Villagejust as Drops Cycling did? Contact us.